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In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.

Baron de Montesquieu

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Baron de Montesquieu
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The less men think, the more they talk.
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You have to study a great deal to know a little.
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Honor is unknown in despotic states.
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There are countries where a man is worth nothing there are others where he is worth less than nothing.
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Trade is the best cure for prejudice.
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It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.
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It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.
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Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.
Baron de Montesquieu
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Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.
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There is still another inconvenieney in conquests made by democracies their government is ever odious to the conquered states. It is apparently monarchical, but in reality it is more oppressive than monarchy, as the experience of all ages and countries evinces.
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An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations.
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At our coming into the world we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.
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I never listen to calumnies, because if they are untrue I run the risk of being deceived, and if they be true, of hating persons not worth thinking about.
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Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order for him to have this liberty the government must be such that one citizen cannot fear another citizen.
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Luxury ruins republics poverty, monarchies.
Baron de Montesquieu
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The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind.
Baron de Montesquieu
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To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight.
Baron de Montesquieu
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Slowness is frequently the cause of much greater slowness.
Baron de Montesquieu
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What cowardice it is to be dismayed by the happiness of others and devastated by there good fortune.
Baron de Montesquieu
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[The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread... and a thousand other things of the same kind.
Baron de Montesquieu